• Background

  The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools for children of statutory school age from low-income families who are known to be eligible for Free school meals (FSM) in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings : to children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months and to children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.  From 2012-2013 this has also included pupils eligible for FSM at any point in the last six years (known as the Ever 6 FSM measure).

• Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However we will be held accountable for how we have used the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families. From September 2012 we are required to publish online information about how we have used the Premium. This will ensure that parents and others are made fully aware of the attainment of pupils covered by the Premium and the extra support that they receive.

• Use of Pupil Premium 2011-2012
  

  In 2011-2012 the level of the premium was £488 per pupil known to be eligible for FSM and those in care and £200 for those children whose parents serve in the armed forces. In 2011, the Government introduced a Pupil Premium. This is in addition to Schools main funding and is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for Free School Meals.

  Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit and during the academic year 2011/12, St Francis Catholic Primary used some of their funding to improve ICT facilities to enhance cross-curricular learning within School. This included purchasing 15 new laptops and 20 flip camcorders. The majority of the funding was used for additional educational supports and intervention groups to improve progress and attainment. Our 2012 data showed that there were no significant gaps between children entitled to Pupil Premium and those other children.

• During the academic year 2012/13, we intend to use our Pupil Premium for additional educational support, educational visits, extra curricular activities and intervention groups to improve progress and attainment of pupils from low income families.
• Use of Pupil Premium 2012 - 2013

• Use of Pupil Premium 2013 - 2014       Date of next review January 2014

• Use of Pupil Premium 2014 - 2015       Date of next review January 2015

• Use of Pupil Premium 2015 - 2016       Date of next review January 2016

• Use of Premium 2016 - 2017         Date of next review July 2017

• Pupil Premium Report 2017

Who qualifies for Free School Meals?

Families are entitled to free school meals for their children if they are in receipt of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £16,190, provided they are not receiving Working Tax Credit
• The ‘Guaranteed’ element of the State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (you will need to apply directly to the school not Bradford Council)
• Universal Credit

Please note: people receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of their income level, do not qualify. People in receipt of Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ (the payment someone can get for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) will be entitled to Free School Meals for their children for this period.

Why are Free School Meals important?

The benefits of children getting a free and nutritionally balanced meal are well documented, but did you know that children who qualify for Free School Meals may also get help with the following:

• Help with the cost residential school trips
• Help with council run music lessons at school.
• Extra funding to support them at school. This funding is known as the Pupil Premium. Our school will get £1,300 this year for every child registered for Free School Meals.

Help with School Uniform

School uniform can be very expensive to purchase and is quickly outgrown. We encourage families to make use of our excellent recycled uniform shop at school reception. Parents and pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium Grant are welcome to visit the shop during school hours and to choose some of our recycled uniform free of charge. We also welcome donations of 'outgrown uniform.' Contact Mrs Laptew at school for help.

• You can apply by phoning 01274 432772 or email: benefits@bradford.gov.uk or click here.

• In December 2014 we were delighted to have achieved national recognition for the work we do at St Francis and the impact that this has on progress, achievement and outcomes for our children. Congratulations to all the children, parents, staff and governors. We are making a difference!